engleski

Limb regeneration in axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)

Regenerative medicine is a relatively new branch in medical research although regeneration is a topic of scientists’ interest long before the 20th century. Tissue regeneration occurs in all adult tetrapods but only amphibians from order Urodela, which includes axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum), have the ability to regenerate complex structures. Ambystoma mexicanum can regenerate almost all body parts such as entire limbs but also internal organs (heart, brain and lungs). In mammals, during the normal aging process, the ability of regeneration is almost completely lost. However, Mexican axolotl retains this ability throughout its whole life. Moreover, it seems that they are even resistant to age-related pathologies. The Ambystoma mexicanum as a research model provides an opportunity for better understanding of the cell’s mechanisms of controlled growth and pattern formation leading to regeneration rather than aging and cancer. This paper presents an overview of the most important aspects of limb regeneration in the axolotl as an ideal model for investigating the complex mechanisms of regeneration, as well as the model organism to study scarless wound healing in vertebrates. Therefore, with advances in genetics, technology, and molecular biology, the Ambystoma mexicanum provides a unique opportunity to study and eventually understand the regulation of all these processes in the same organism. This, in turn, has the potential to enable the development of tailored methods to promote regeneration for the benefit of human health.

axolotl, aging, regeneration, wound healing, limb regeneration

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